KUCHING: The longstanding issue of mobile signal at Rantau Panjang in Batu Kawah will be solved following the installation of a new telecommunication tower in the area.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian in thanking Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Borneo Restu Sdn Bhd, said the companies have put up the new telco tower in less than three months.
“With Maxis fully on air, it will solve the long-standing issue of mobile signal in the Rantau Panjang area, which is sparsely populated.
“But, it is also hoped that more telcos will come on board as social services rather than just based on profit considerations,” he said in a Facebook post.
Dr Sim who is Batu Kawah assemblyman added each telecommunication tower with all the facilities and equipment can cost as much as RM300,000.
“The amount, excludes monthly rental of land from private owners and monthly electricity bill.
“Hence, truly there is a need for the best of public-private partnerships,” he said.
In another post, Dr Sim said the Rantau Panjang residents will also have access to the Internet.
“This is following the installation of 800 poles with 2.4km of fibre optics cable, which is a RM2 million capital expenditure.
“Thanks Telekom Malaysia (TM) for doing social responsibility before profit for Rantau Panjang with less than 100 houses, to allow high-speed Internet access which the residents had been wishing for a long time,” he said.
